OXNARD—A free family movie, plus fun crafts, were on the agenda at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Sept. 1, as kids of all ages came out to enjoy the film Inside Out and create masks based on its characters.

Inside Out is an animated adventure that brings to life the emotions of a young girl who moves with her family from the Midwest to San Francisco. As she experiences joy, fear, anger, disgust, and sadness these emotions are portrayed by characters throughout her journey.

Program Assistant Dimna Jasso said the team at the performing arts center brainstormed about the movies.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said. “There is no money spent, and the kids do different activities based on each movie.”

She has been on the performing arts center staff for almost two years.

“I started working in the box office and then started working in the main office about a month ago,” she said.

The job transition happened slowly, she said, and she almost didn’t notice the change.

“They asked me to help with this, and I said okay,” she said. “I started doing the social media before Carolyn Mullin came here and she liked what I was doing with it, so she asked me to join her team.”

Dimna planned to watch the movie after they cleaned up.

“I heard it was a cute movie,” she said.

Mullin said her staff is trying to gauge what the people want.

“These newer animated productions are what people want,” she said.

The Oxnard Performing Arts Center is hard at work planning its 50th Anniversary Celebration Sept. 24, she said, and the entire staff is excited.

“Our main act is Los Angeles Azules, Mexico’s number one cumbia band,” she said. “It’s a big deal that we’re getting them, and ticket sales are going strong. We’re going to get close to a sellout even though the event is on a Monday.”

From 4-6:30 p.m. she said the center would have a party on the patio.

“We’ve teamed up with Radio Lazar Broadcasting, and their D.J.s will be providing the tunes,” she said. “The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce will be doing a ribbon cutting ceremony.”

Mullin said the community has history buffs who dug into the center’s archives.

“The woman who championed the arts center in 1968, her name was Cleo Le Bot, and we have all of her original scrapbooks,” Mullin said.

She’s also spoken with the Optimist Club that put on the first production in 1968.

“They also erected the fountain, but it has fallen into disrepair over the years,” she said. “We’re transforming that into a succulent garden, which will be dedicated.”

She loves how community-minded the performing arts center is to the residents.

“It’s in the middle of a neighborhood,” she said. “I get a lot of satisfaction knowing people can walk a block or two and have art and cultural activity.”

John Perez asked his mother if he could come and see the movie.

“It’s a great movie, and I like the title,” he said. “The sadness (character) put a circle down so he can’t do it anymore,” he said.

Noemi Garci said she'd seen the movie before.

“I love it,” she said. “I like the angry one.”

Ricky Haywood was busy coloring the anger mask.

“He looks cool,” he said. “My parents told me about the movie.”

He said his favorite part of the movie is when the characters got stuck in the tube.

Guinevere Haywood said the movie is a fun activity.

“I like when the mom and dad’s brains are talking to each other,” she said. “It’s how the mind works.”